Oh My Gosh! I Did It Again . . .

AAARRGGGHHHH! I Did It Again!

You would think I learned my lesson. No. Here I am making the same mistake . . . again!

Trying to make sense out of the confused and erratic statements of my friends, is one of the challenges of life. However, this time I walked straight back into the same issues that started these postings.

I had a return visit with my Reformed Baptist friends for a few days. And right on the first night, we got into a discussion. The topic? Localized self government.

The Australian (me): The American foundation was an attempt to put the Biblical pattern of localized self government into practice.

My American Friends: Where does it say in the Bible we should have localized self government?

Me: The Old Testament, specifically the laws to Israel, Torah.

Them: That’s the Old Testament.

Later, they modified their comment: Those laws were given to Israel, and we’re not Israelites.

Why bother? In last week’s e-zine (Give Me The Facts), I spoke about how “facts” do not even convince our Christian brothers and sisters. And I, of course, was dumb enough to try “facts”.

Now I need to go listen and read Dr. Bahnsen again . . . and again . . . and again. I’ve learned my lesson: Stop arguing the facts and get to the presuppositions.

Tell me why you said what you said?

How does that comment address the issue?

When you say that, doesn’t that create a problem over here?

Notice the difference?

When you argue “facts”, you make statements about those facts and expect the facts to lead the person to your conclusion.

On the other hand, when you address the presuppositions of your opponents, you ask questions. Pointed questions. Difficult questions for them to answer. Questions that help them realize they can’t quite put the puzzle together, and maybe they need to do a little more homework.

If there was a rule that said that in any discussion you may ask questions but make no statements, how long would you stay in the game?

As for me, I lost out in the first round.

God bless you as you work for the expansion of His kingdom.

See also Give Me The Facts